how can a inside pet get fleas?
There are many ways an inside pet can develop a flea problem. If you review our online FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn that fleas abound outside. Commonly found on most any animal active in the neighborhood, these fleas will no doubt be laying eggs and these eggs and other developing stages can end up in your front, side or back yard. When people living in a residence venture outside for a moment or two they are vulnerable to adult fleas. And though the adult fleas don’t like to spend their life on a person, they’ll gladly take a ride and grab a bite to eat along the way as they get carried back inside the dwelling.
Once this unsuspecting person enters their home, any fleas hitching a ride on them can hop off onto the floor of the home. From there they’ll quickly find any pets that reside in the structure and since fleas prefer pets over people, it’s likely a flea problem will develop if left untreated. This scenario plays out over and over in unprotected homes and in most cases starts from one flea getting inside.
Now many people describe an “inside pet” as one that resides inside but still goes outside to defecate. If the “inside animal” you’re asking about goes outside for any reason it will clearly be a marked target for fleas in it’s path. This is another highly probably scenario for an inside pet to get fleas.
And guess what; there are many other ways a flea problem can develop on an inside pet. If any of the animals found in your yard ventures onto or inside your home, fleas and flea stages can fall off the animal and infest your home. Most every home will get squirrels, rats, mice, birds, bats and many other animals walking on it at some point. During this time the house becomes vulnerable to any pest which inadvertently gets off it. Many times this indirect route leads to pest problems including fleas.
Additional routes of entry can be from visiting friends or family members who are flea egg or adult flea carriers from homes with active flea problems. Once inside your home the fleas can relocate and cause a local infestation. No doubt this happens quite a bit.
The bottom line is most any animal is subject to a flea problem if it’s owners aren’t careful. Once a flea problem is detected, it’s imperative that both the pet and the home be treated so the flea cycle is eliminated. Any of the products we have listed in our Flea Control article can do the job; don’t wait till it’s developed into a house full of fleas before you treat. As our article explains, treating sooner rather than later is the smartest approach when it comes to this insect.
Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:
Flea Control Article: www.flea.net/flea-control
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